Exploring Photography as a Contemplative Practice from a Taoist Perspective

Sunday, September 15, 2013

PhotoTao Card #40 - Tao and Te

Tao and Te

Tao is essential and unknowable. Te

understands Tao and is Tao's protector.

Te allows Tao to flow uninterrupted.

- Exercise -

Seek out an "unknowable location...a

busy street corner or a crowded

amusement park - any place that is visually

overwhelming. Pass through and absorb

the chaos. Distill it into a series of 5 or 6

images that are "knowable". What have

you chosen to "know" in this location?

What does this choice reveal to you?

Into the Center

The cathedrals in France were places that I found visually overwhelming. The hoards of people and the interior ornamentation, there seemed no place to rest the eye.

This image was made in Chartres cathedral when I stopped and looked up at the vaulted ceiling. This was "knowable" to me. The lines leading into the center...coming to rest in the tiny void. Paths can lead this way...into the center, into a place of rest. Taoist painting always gives the viewer a place for their eye to rest. It is what I find so appealing about it.

This is a wonderful exercise to try when you find yourself overwhelmed with choices of what to photograph. Look for the calm within the storm of visual imagery. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and then look for the point of rest...you'll find it.

No comments:

Welcome to A Photographic Sage!

This blog explores the juncture of contemplative camera work and the search for a way of photographing the world around us through the characteristics of the Taoist sage. For the Contemplative Photographer, the camera is viewed as an extension of a persons heart and mind and the resulting photographs as a visual, and highly personal diary of experience and expression. Where traditional photography focuses on subject and technique, Contemplative Photography makes the connection between meaning and personal experience the over-riding emphasis. This blog will delve into the metaphoric capabilities of the photographic medium. I welcome readers to join in the discussion on Contemplative Photography by posting your comments . Thank you for visiting and enjoy the journey! - Patricia TurnerVisit my Pinterest boards for more inspiration or you can pin these latest ones directly to your boards. - Visit Patricia's profile on Pinterest.

Google+ Badge

Field Guide for the Contemplative Photographer

Click on this picture to down load a free PDF of my field guide.

Focusing on Life Blog

My Interview on 365 Days of Inspiration...

Follow the link below to read the interview by Kim Manley Ort on her wonderful blog, 365 Days of Inspiration. Be sure to download your free e-book version of The Field Guide for the Contemplative Photographer above!

The Fertile Rock - The Burren Series

Patricia Turner

I live in an old farmhouse in the mountains of Western Maine with my philosopher in residence, Emerson. (A sweet cat that tolerates my long hours of reading and writing.) When I'm not in Maine I'm traveling the world. Follow my travels on:

A Summer Sojourn to the Hebrides

Click on the picture and see a YouTube video of my color photographs of the Western Isles. The photograph above appeared in the Spring edition of Scottish Life Magazine. A feature article of my black and white images of the Western Isles appeared in the Summer edition. The Fall edition features 7 of my color photographs of South Uist and my photograph is also on the cover! Pick up your copy today, it is a wonderful publication. You can also get back issues on their website...the link is above.